A Historical Appraisal of the January 25 “Day of Wrath”: Incentives, Characteristics and Implications

While too early to tell what implications these protests will have, Egyptian history demonstrates they will likely have far reaching effects, first among which is breaking the shackles of fear.

by Nancy Elshami

In a display of determination and anger, thousands of Egyptians flocked to the streets on January 25, 2011 to participate in what has come to be known as the “Day of Wrath” against the last thirty years of corruption, torture and poverty in their country. The extent and range of these protests, while not unheard of in Egyptian history, have been unprecedented since 1977. While demonstrations occurring in the country over the last 5-10 years have focused on discrete problems, such as labor or economic issues, the current mass protests bear little resemblance to these past events. Though many have noted the unique circumstances and characteristics of these current protests, they have nonetheless attempted to dissect and understand these developments in terms of recent Egyptian history. By contrast, in order to fully appreciate the significance and potential effects of these protests, what is needed is an examination of events that took place further back in Egypt’s past. These events, which have come to shape and define Egyptian society, provide a deeper understanding of the character, breadth, government response and implications of the January 25 uprising, which more short-term comparisons have failed to do.